Game apparatus



. Jan. 6. 192s. '15222-03 Y E. A. NELSGINJR l GAME APPARATUS Filed March 6, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 6. 1925. 11,522,203

A E. A. NELSON, JR

GAME APPARATUS Filed March 6, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan, 6,1925.

E. A. NELSON, JR

GAME APPARATUS 4 Filed March 6, 1922 v s sheets-snm s A Patented Jan. 6, 1925.

'EDGAR A. NELSON, JR., OF VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNORTO TIER-l BERT JS. SHEPARD, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

Application `lcd March 46,

T0 all who-m it may concern:

'Be it kno-wn that I, EDGAR A. NELSON, Jn, residing at llfashington, in the District of lColumbia, have invented new and useful Improvements in `Grame Apparatus,of which the following is a specification.v

This invention is a game apparatus and has for its object to provide a new and improved game requiring `the exercise of skill in the playing thereof as distinguished from mere chance.

The apparatus involves va playing surface provided with electric contacts included viu electric circuits which also include signals or annunciators, and manually movable playing elements capable of being manually moved along the surface and designed to be so manipulated as to come to rest upon ,a pair of contacts so as to close acircuit and actuate the signal or annunciator thereof.

'Vith these and other objects in view, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more ,fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it of course being understood ltha-t changes in the form, proportion, size and .minor details may be made, within the scope of the claims, without departing from the Yspirit or sacrificing any lof the `advantages of the invention.

In the drawings;

vFigure l is a front `elevation of a Agame 4apparatus embodying the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig.V l.;

3 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view taken longitudinally through ther rear end of 'the game table and ,showing the manner of securing electric conductors Yupon the table;

Fig. il is a viewsimilar to- Fig. 3, but in a different vertical plane, and showing a metal ball resting upon and electrically con .necting adjacent conductors of an annunci- -ator syst-em;

Fig. 5 is a detail fragmentary plan view illustrating thc trough or gutter across the rear end of the gametable;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the annunciator circuits;

1922. ASerial N10. 541,496.

Fig. 8 is a .diagrammatic viewof a inedi-v fied annunciator system;

Fig. .91is an enlarged detail of Ya part of :Fig 10 is an enlarged det-ail fragmentary view showing the means for locking the back-stop.

The `present game is played upon affiat,

level surface, and in lthe embodiment .of

the vgame shown vin l the accompanyingdrawings, the playing surface 'is a table top '1, of any suitableconstruction, supported upon leg` standards 2 in anydesired manner.

Extending along the longitudinal side edges of the table are upstanding guard walls or `flanges 3, rising a :suitable distance alcove the tabletop or playing-surface. The playing Asurface is divided yinto a plurality ofdivisions-'or alleys Aby means of longitudinal partition strips 4, each alley being open at its front end and open or closed at its rear end as niay'be Ydesired. Extending transversely acrossfth-etop of the playing surface atthe rear'end thereof are bare and exposed electric contact members 5,.,Q1rouped in pairs ldesignated A, B, (l Aand l). which `lie flat upon the top of the playing surface and are connected in electric circuits asbest illustrated in Figure 6. vThe successive pairs of contacts aire spaced a suitable distance `bv lmeans lof spacers 6 of suitable 'insulating material. As best illustrated in .Figure 4, it will be seen that each insulatorl strip 6 projects above the contact members fora purpose will be Ahereinafter explained.

The electric system includes a source of eleftricity as. for instance, a battery 7,. from which a conduct-or 8 :leads to a plurality of signalsV o r annunciators designated'9, 10, 11 .and l2, respectively, which may beof :any character, as, for instance, .electric lamps. Each lamp is connected-in series with the battery through corresponding contact niembers J5, fthe conductors `being designated `153, lll, 15 `and 16, each of .which is connectedto one end of a contact member 5 of one of the pairs of contact members.` The yother contactzmember of .each :pairgof Contact members is connected to a common return conductor 17 by means of `suitable conductors 18, 19, 20 and 21. The return 17, of course, is connected with the battery 7, and preferably includes a switch 22, which, when closed, places the electric system in condition for operation. It will, of course, be understood that when the switch 22 is closed, the various annunciator circuits are open, because the contact members 5 of each pair, A, B, C and D, are unconnected. Each circuit may be closed by bridging the contactsthereof by a suitable conductor, as, for instance, a metallic ball, which has been des# ignated 23, one of such balls being shown in operative position in Figures 2, l and 6 of the drawings, wherein it will be seen that the ball is resting upon the bare members of a pair of contacts 5, from which it will be understood that the ball operates as a temporary switch member for connecting the contacts 5 and closing the` circuit containing said contacts. The lamps or other devices 9, 10, 11 and 12, will be energized or operated in accordance with the closing of the circuits in which they are included. Any one of the circuits will be closed by a ball or other electrically conductive playing member which rests in contact with and bridges the contact members of a pair of contacts.

By reference to Figure 6 of the drawings, it will be seen that one contact member of each pair oi contacts is connected at one end with one side of the battery 7, while the other contact member is connected at its other end through one ot the lamps and the lead 8 to the opposite side ot the battery.

It will here be explained that the insulatingv strips 6 serve not only to insulate successive contact members, but also operate as re'tarders to retard the motion ot a ball rolling across the contacts. The insulator strips also serve to center a ball upon a pair ot contact members so as to insure a proper seating of the ball and t-o obtain an effective contact between the ball and the Vcontact members.

As hereinbefore indicated, the rear ends of the respective alleys may be open, as clearly indicated in liigures 3,v 4 and oiE the drawings, and a suitable trough or gut ter 24 is provided across the rear end oi the table and disposed' so as to receive such balls as roll entirely across the series of contacts, and said trough or gutter is inclined downwardly from one end, and has its lower end connected, by means of a bend or elbow 25 with a longitudinal gutter 26, extending alongside of the table to the front end there of, and inclined downwardly suflieient to insure the travel of the ball to the front end of the gutter, which front end is closed, as indicated at 27 so as to prevent escape of the balls from the gutter at t-he front end of the table. By this arrangement of troughs or gutters, it will be seen that such balls as pass beyond the rear end of the table are received in the gutter and automatically returned to the front ot the table in position for repeated use.

By reference to Figure 5 of the drawings, it will be seen that the gutter 24e is provided at its lower end and adjacent the bend or elbow 25 with a detlector 28, which reduces the transverse dimension of the gutter adjacent its lower discharge end, and compels the ball to strike a concave defiector 30 at the opposite side of the gutter, and constituting one wall of the elbow 25, whereby the balls are directed in a satisfactory manner around the elbow and are prevented from rebounding into the gutter 25, as would occur in the absence ot' the concave detlector 29.

In the embodiment of the apparatus as shown in Figures 1 and 2, it will be eX- plained that the battery is contained within a suitable casing or battery bei; 31, hung beneath the bottom of the table, while the .lamps are supported at a suitable elevation above the rear end ot the table in a Jframe including uprights 32 rising from opposite sides of the table.

The present arrangement et lamps lends itselt= admirably to advertising purposes, in that advertising space may be provided around the respective lights, as indicated at 33, 34, 3.5 and 36. lt desired, an advertising panel 37 may be provided upon the tops of the uprights 32 above the panels S3 to B6, inclusive. .Each lamp is, et course, lgiven a suitable designation, so as to distinguish the several lamps. In the present embodiment, the lamps have been designated by the numerals 1, 2, 3, and a, respectively, displayed in the advertising panels and locate( adjacent the. lamps. There is one lamp ior each alley, and each lamp is in vertical alinement with its corresponding alley, the alleys and the lamps being given corresponding designations, in that the alleys are nun'ibered 1, 2, 3 and t, as best indicated in Figure 2 of the drawings.

While Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings show a lamp tor each alley, it will here be explained that the number of lamps is not governed by the number ot alleys but, as will be readily understood from an examination el Figure 6, the number of lamps is governed by the number of pairs of contacts. ln other words there is a lamp 'for each pair or' contacts, and any number of pairs ct' contacts may be employed. In each et Figures l and 2, the lamps are shown above and in alignment with the respective alleys, but it is quite apparent that the positions et' the lamps are not governed by the alleys, as the lamps may be given any location," and may .ib-all. `"vided with .a number or designati-on, as shown in Figures 2 and 7, there bein-g one also be given any arbitrary numbering or other designation Without reference to the Vdesignations of the alleys.

provided. with a depression or concavity 39 to form a seat or socket for retaining the Each ball holder or retainer is prob-lock or holder for each alley.

It will of course be understood that the finanner of using the game apparatus, as

Iiust described, is only one Way of using it. By increasing the pairs of contacts and the lamps controlled thereby, a Wide range of play may be obtained, and the game may be played and scored in the manner of playing and scoring the. Well known bowling game.

In using the game. apparatus, the players stand in front of the table and opposite the open front ends of the respective alleys. Each player rolls a 'ball in his respective alley with the object of having the ball come torest on the members of apair of contacts 5, and thereby energize one of the. lamps. The contacts which are in the circuit for the lamp bearing the highest number, are preferably located at the front of the series of contacts, for the reason that this is the mostdiflieult location in which to have the ball eventually come to rest. Some of the balls will, of course, travel across the series of contacts and drop into thel trough 24 at the rear end of the table and-be returned to the front end of the table through Vthe longitudinal trough 2G.l Such balls as remain on the table and on contacts, Will, of course, close certain circuits and energine. the lamps thereof. he player whose ball closes the circuit including the lamp of the highest number. of the lamps which are energized, is the winner. VThe balls which remain on the contacts, after the Winner has been announced, may kbe brushed off into the trough or gutter 24 and permitted to return to the front of the table Where itI will be replaced upon the respective ball holders or retainers. lllhile I contemplate numbering each ball to correspond Withthe number on its lball holder or retainer and the alle-y in which it is to be rolled, this is not essential, as any ball may be returned to any .ball holder or retainer. The Winner may be accurately determined by noting the number of the alley in which is they ball Which has closed the circuit of the highest number show-n` the person having the ball holder or retainer bearing' the number of lthe alley in which said ball is located being the winner. confusion, therefore, can arise as. te which of the player-s rolled the Vballlfwhich `closed the circuit =of the lamp showing the highest number.

A 'foul line 40 is provided transversely a-cross theplaying surface at a. suitable distance from the frcnt .end-:of the table. Such balls as .pass beyond 'the foul line are in play and 'cannot be rolled lagain even though the balls do not .reach the .series of contacts. Such balls as `ido not reach 'the foul lineamay be again rolled. Should a `tie result, by reason of twvo .or more balls lbeing included in the one circuit showing the highest number, the players Who rolled such balls `are permitted to roll again.

lVhile not absolutely essential kto :the operation of the game, a guard 4l may be provided across the vfront ef the table `at a suitable distance therefrom, .such 'that playersstanding in front `of the guard, Will be able to reach the front portion only of the table so as to piel( up the ball retainers and balls, and will be compelled to deliver the ball on the front end of the table and will be prevented from reaching over and delivering the ball at any mate-rial distance in rear of the frontend of the table. If desired, the guard 'may have side members 42 overlapping and .extending in substantial parallel- -ism withopposlte sides of the table. One

or more persons having 'charge .of the game table may stand in .the space between the table and the guard Without interference .by t-he players and'vvithout interfering with the free .movement ofthe players.

While the electric contacts may be secured to the table in any desired manner, :a satisfactory construction and arrangement has been shown in Figure 8, Which is a sectional view taken through one of the divisional strips 4, which strips are' secured to the table top l, at the rear end thereof, by means of suitable screws 43 and 44. The conductors 5 and the insulating strips 6 pass beneath the strip 4, and a spacing .member 45, preferably of some relatively hard insulating material, is placed Vbetvve'en the members of each pair of contacts. llVhen the, strip 4 is drawn dovvn by the screws 43 and 44, the contacts 5, the spacers 45 and the insulator strips 6, will be crowded down and clamped snuglyy in place so ras to hold the several parts rigidly in their proper spaced relation Without the employment of individual fasten-ings, such as,Y dou-ble pronged fastening Adevices which .are liable -to Work loose. To 'prevent .the contacts and associated parts froinspreading, Lui-der the clamping action of the vstrip `4, .a suitable abutment 46 is provided across the rear-end of the table, which may be in the forni lof a separate strip, as shown, or might be integral with the ystrip 4 or With the table l. Another abutment is provided at .the front end of the series of contacts, and in the presentembodiment, this front abutment-is formed by the rear end of a thick piece of linoleum 47, which covers the entire top of the table and constitutes the playing surface, said linoleum being held in place by the strips 4, which are secured to the table top by means of screws 43 and 44, and by means of other fastenings designated 48 as indicated in Figure 2 of the drawings.

In Figures 8 and 9 I have shown a 1nodiiication to permit the operation of the game in the manner of a shuiiie board, the movable playing element, designated 48, being flat or in the form of a disc rather than of a ball. In this arrangement, instead of employing spaced contact members, I employ a flatstrip 44 of non-conducting material which is provided upon its under side with a plurality of bowed leaf springs 45 having their middle portions resting upon the table top or playing surface so as to support the strip 44 in an elevated position. The adjacent springs 45 are connected by conductors 46, and one of the terminal springs is connected by a conductor 47 and the lead 17 connected to one side of the battery 7 in the manner shown and described in Figure 6. The conductor 8 which leads from the other side of the battery 7 includes lamps or annunciators 9 and 10 as hereinbefore described, while the conductors 13 and 14 lead from the. respective lamps and extend alongside of the respective strips 44. A conducting member 47 extends from each conductor 13 and 14 beneath the strip 44 and above and outl of Contact with the adjacent spring 45, it of course being understood that there is a contact 47 for each spring 45. When the playingv member 43 is slid along the playing surface and comes to rest upon one of the strips 44, the weight of the playing member will depress the strip until one of the contacts 47 engages the adjacent spring contact 45, thereby completing a circuit and energizing the lamp or annunciator included in said circuit. Between adjacent contact strips 44 there is an insulator strip 48 which is also supported by bowed leaf springs, indicated in dotted lines and designated 49, in order that the insulator strip may be de.- pressed under the weight of the playing member when the playing member rests partly on the insulator strip and partly on the contact strip. It will of course be understood that the distance between adjacent contact strips is greater than the width of the playing member in order that two contact strips may not be depressed by a single playing member or element.

It will here be explained that in the ball form of the apparatus, the ball must be a conductor of electricity so as to constitute a switch member for connecting the members of a pair of contacts, whereas in the other form of the apparatus the movable playing element need not be a conductor of electricity, as it functions merely as a weight to depress the contact strips.

Fach insulator strip 6 is rounded or provided with opposite inclines so as to prevent a ball from coming to rest on the insulator strip, thereby insuring a proper seating of the ball on the pair of contacts.

In order to prevent rusting of the surface of the metal ball and to improve the contact surface thereof, I provide the ball with a suitable surface coating, as for instance nickel.

Instead of having the playing surface entirelyvunobstructed at its rear end, as shown in Fig. 3, a. wall or back-stop 50 may be provided, as shown in Fig. 4, such wall eX- tending entirely across the width of the playing surface and cutting the latter off from the rear transverse trough, whereby all balls that are rolled will remain on the playing surface. IVhile this wall or backstop may be fixed, it is preferred to movably mount the same so that it may be moved out of the path of the balls in order that they may escape into the trough. Any movable mounting of thewall may be employed, as for instance by supporting the same upon hinges7 one such hinge being shown at 5l. As indicated in Fig. 10, the wall may be held or locked in its upright operative position, as for instance by means of a bolt 52.

IVhat is claimed is:

l. A game apparatus comprising a play-A ing surface, a` plurality lof electric circuits including individually distinguished signals or annunciators, a series of bare and exposed contacts: extending transversely across the playing surface and divided into pairs, each pair of contacts being included in one of the electric circuits, and a movable playing member of conductive material, said playing member capable of being manually moved upon the playing surface and of a size to bridge a pair of contacts and close the circuit thereof. Y

2. A game apparatus comprising a playing surface, a movable playing member of electric conductivity and capable of being manually moved along the playing surface from the front to the back thereof, a plurality of electric circuits including individually distinguished signals or annunciators, and a series of bare and exposed parallel contacts extending transversely across the playing surface adjacent the rear portion thereof and in the path of movement of the playing member, said contacts being divided into pairs, each pair of contacts being included in one of the circuits, and the playing member being of a size to bridge a pair of contacts and thereby close the circuit thereof.

3. A game apparatus comprising a playing surface, pairs of bare and exposed parallel contact members extending transversely across the playing surface,a source of electricity, a lead extend-ing from each side of the source of electricity, one of the contacts of each pair being connected to the lead extending from one side of the source of electricity, the opposite end of the other contact of said pair of contacts being connected with the lead extending from the other side of the source of electricity, a signal'or annunciator included in each circuit and distinguished from each of the other signals, and a manually movable playing` member of electric conductivity capable of being moved along the playing surface and across the contacts, said playing member being of a size to bridge a pair ofY contacts and close the circuit thereof.

4. A game apparatus comprising a playing surface, pairs of bare and exposed parallel Contact members extending transversely across the playing surface, a source of electricity, a lead extending from each side of the source of electricity, one of the contacts of each pair being connected to the lead extending from one side of the source of electricity, the opposite end of the other contact of said pair of contacts being connected with the lead extending from the other side of the source of electricity, a signal or annunciator included ineach circuit 'and distinguished from each of the other signals, insulator strips between adjacent contact members ofsuccessive pairs, said insulator strips projecting above the top surface of the Contact members, and a manually movable playing member of electric conductivity capable of being moved along the playing surface and across the series of contacts, said playing member being of a. size to bridge va pair of contacts and close the circuit thereof, the several insulator strips also constituting frictional retarders in the path of movement of the playing member.

5. A game apparatus comprising a playing surface, pairs of substantially parallel contact members extending transversely across the playing surface, each pair of contacts being included in an electric circuit which also includes a signal or annunciatcr, insulator strips separating successive pairs of contacts and extending above the top surface of the contacts, and a movable play ing member in the form of. a metallic ball :apable of being rolled along the playing surface and across the contacts, the members cfeach pair of conta-cts being spaced for engagement with opposite sdesof the ball when it comes to rest upon: any pair of contacts, the insulator strips constituting vfrictional rctarders in the path of the ball and also serving to center the ball on the contacts.

6. A game apparatus comprising a playing surface, a pair of bare and exposed substantially parallel contact` members extendmg transversely across the playing surface,

an electric circuit including the contact,

members and also including a signal or annunciator, a manually movable playing member in the form of a metall-ic ball capable of being rolled along 'the playing surface and across the contacts and` of a size to bridge the contacts and close the circuit when the ball comes to rest between the contacts, a downwardly inclined trough extending transversely across the playing surface and in rear of the contact members, and ay forwardly extending downward-ly inclined trough leadingfrom they lower end of the transverse trough to the front o-f the playing surface, the playing surf-ace in rear of the contact members being unobstructed to permit the movable playing member to escapefrom the rear end of the playing surface and drop into the transverse trough and be carried to the front of they playing surface inthe longitudinal trough.

7. 4A gaine apparatus comprising a `playing surface, a plurality of electric circuits including signals-or annunciator-s, Va series or bare and 'ex-posed parallel contacts ertending-transversely across 'the playing sur.-

face 'and' divided intov pairs, each pair of contacts: being included in one-fof the electric circuits,- and a movable playing member capable of berng manu-'ally moved upon the .playing surface:l into; cooperative relation with the pairs of contacts 'for selectively v,closing the circuits, i Si A game apparatus comprising a-pljaying surface, `a movable Aplaying member capable of being manuallymoved along the playing` surface fromthe: fronty to the back A thereof, a, plurality of, electric circuits including individually distinguished signa/ls or annunciators, and a. series of bare and exposed parallel contacts extending transversely across the playing surface adjacent the rear portion thereof and in the path o .f movement oftheY playing member, sai-dcontacts being divided into pairs,` each pai-r of 'contacts beingl includedin one of the circuits, and the playing member being capable of cooperation with respective pairs .of eontactsforselectively closing these circuits.

9. A gaine apparatus comprising a playing surface, a plurality of electric circuits including signals or annunciators,v advertising panels associated with the signalsor `amninciators, pairs of contacts for the respective electric circuits, and a movable playing memberfcapable of being manually moved upon the playing surface selectively into cooperation with the pairs of contacts. I

l0, A game apparatus comprising a playing surface, upright advertisingy panels disposed above the playing surface and facing the front thereof, a plurality of electric cir` cuits including signals or annunciators in cooperative relation with the advertising panels, pairs of bare and exposed contacts for the respective circuits and disposed transversely upon the playing surface, and a movable playing member capable of being manually moved upon the playing surface selectively into cooperative relation With the pairs of contacts.

l1. A gaine apparatus comprising a playing surface, a series of bare and exposed substantially parallel contacts extending transversely across the playing surface and divided into pairs, an electric circuit for each pair of contacts, a frame rising above the'playing surface, a plurality of advertising panels carried by said frame, signals or anniiiiciators included in the circuits and supported on the frame in cooperative relation with the respective advertising panels, and a movable playing member capable of being manually moved upon the playing surface selectively into cooperative relation With the contacts. Y

12. A game apparatus comprising a playing surface, a plurality of electric circuits including individually distinguished signals or annunciatoi's, a storage battery included in the electric circuits, a series of bare and exposed parallel contacts extending transversely across the playing surface and 'divided into pairs, each pair of contacts being included in one of the electric circuits,

and a movable playing member capable of Vbeing manually moved upon the playing surface selectively into cooperative relation With the contacts.

13. A gaine apparatus comprising a playing surface, a plurality of electric circuits including signals or annunciators distinguished one from the other, exposed and bare contacts included in the circuits and located on the playing surface and arranged in pairs, and a movable playing member of conductive material, said pla-ying member capable of being inanuallv moved upon the playing surface and of a size to bridge any pair of contacts and close the circuit thereof.

14. A game apparatus comprising a playing surface, a series of bare and exposed contact rods extending transversely across the rear portion of the playing surface and divided into successive pairs, electric circuits, one circuit for each pair of contacts, a frame rising above the playing surface and provided With a plurality of panels adapted to contain advertising matter, an electric lamp at each panel and adapted to illuminate the panel, each electric light being included in one of the electric circuits, and a metallic ball capable of being rolled along the playing surface and across the contact rods, the members of each pair'of contacts being spaced for engagement With opposite sides of the ball When it comes to rest upon any pair of contacts; y

15. A game apparatus comprising a playing surface divided into a plurality of lon; gitudinal parallel alleys, a plurality or electric circuits including signals Lor annunciators distinguished one from the other, a series of exposed and bare Contact rods extending transversely across the playing surface of the several alleys and in4 cluded in the electric circuits and arrai'ig'e'd in pairs, and a movable playing member of conductive material, said playing member capable of being manually moved up on the playing surface of any of the alleys and of a size to bridge any pair of conM tacts and close` the circuit thereof.

16. A gaineappara-tus comprising a sub stantially horizontal playing surface, parallel longitudinal partition strips Aprovided upon the playing surface and dividing the same into a plurality of alleys, a series.A of bare and exposed Contact rods extending across the playing surface of the several alleys and divided into pairs, electric circuits including` the pairs of Contact rods, individually distinguished signals or aniiiinciators included in the electric circuits, and amovable playing meniiber of coii= ductive material capable of being manually moved upon the playing surface of any of the alleys and of a size to bridge any pair of contacts and close the circuit thereof.

17. In a game apparatus, a base, a se ries of exposed and bare contact rods ex tending across the base, a plurality of parallel longitudinal strips on the base and dividing the surface thereof into a plurality of alleys, said strips extending transversely across the contact rods, and faste-ning devices securing the strips to Jthe base and drawing said strips snugly against the Contact rods to hold them in place.

18. In a game apparatus, a base, a series' of exposed and bare Contact rods extending across the base, a plurality of parallel longitudinal strips on the base and dividing the surface thereof into a plurality of alleys, said strips extending transversely across the Contact rods, fastening devices securing the strips to the base and draiving said strips snugly against the Contact rods to hold them in pla-ce, and spacing devices interposed between adjacent contact rods and lying between tliebase and the strips and gripped there-between. 1

- 19. In a gaine apparatus of the cnar actor described, a Ybase, a series of bare and exposed parallel Contact rods extending transversely across the base and divided into pairs, insiiiation strips interposed be; tween successire'pairs of Contact rods and extending above the latter, longitudinal partition strips extendingalong the base and across the contact bars and insulation strips, and means securing tlie partition strips to the base and drawing the partition strips down upon the insulation strips and the Contact rods to secure the same in place.

20. In a game apparatus of the character described, a base, a covering` of linoleum upon the base and constituting a. play ing surface, said linoleum terminating short of the rear end of tie base, bare and exposed Contact rods lying upon the base and in rear of the linoleum and extending transversely across the base, longitudinal partition strips extending along` the linoleum and across the contact rods, and means securing the partition strips to the base and clamping the linoleum and the Contact rods between the base and the strips.

2l. In a game apparatus of the character described, a base, a sheet of surfacing material upon the base and constituting a. playing surface, said surfacing` material terminating short of the rear end of the base, bare and exposed contact rods lying upon tlie base land in rear of the surfacing material and extending transversely across the base, longitudinal partition strips eX- tending,` along the surfacing material and across the Contact rods, and means securing the partition strips to the base and clamping the surfacing material and the Contact rods between the base and the strips.

EDGAR A. NELSON, JR. 

